Cannon



May 17, 1932. 1 L DRlGGs, JR

CANNON Filed Feb. 11, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet .l H UMHM .HMV l .LT

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May 17, 1932. L. DRIGGS, JR

CANNON Filed Feb. ll, 1951 2. Sheets-Sheet 2 3mm 888919.85' U52 41" have a clear passage-way at the rear of the Patented liv-lay l?, 1932 FTENT @FFQE LOUIS L. DRIG-GS, J R., OF N EW ROCHELLE, NEW YORK CANNON Application led February 11, 1931. Serial No. 515,102.

The present invention relates to cannon, and more particularly to a. light and simply constructed gun of the breech loading type adapted for use with fixed ammunition.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a construction which may be used in a breech loading cannon of any type, but which is particularly advantageous in low pressure guns. For instance, the construction would be particularly suitable for trench 'the breech block, however, provides ample dimensions to accommodate an operating arm which swings in a plane parallel to the rear face of the block.

- It is an object of the present invention to provide a strong durable gun capable of handling relatively large ammunition and which at the same time is relatively light in construction so that it may be quickly and easily handled, and to provide a gun using low f Ipressure and wherein the breech block may be made relatively thin.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel means for operating the breech bloc-lr and for mounting the same to slide transversely of the axis of the bore of the gun and which may be quickly and easily closed into relatively tight position, and which may be quickly and easily opened for reloading.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved construction of gun wherein the rear side of the breech block may be utilized for accommodating` the operating lever and wherein the hammer may block for contact with the firing pin.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a construction of this character which not only reduces the relative weight 50 of the gun without sacriiicing strength and necessary sizes of the various parts, but which may be incorporated Vin a gun having the usual recoil mechanism and which may be mounted for the various necessary adjust-- ments.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cannon constructed according to the present invention, the gun barrel and adjacent parts being shown in section.

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the cannon in the closed position of Figure 1, the mounting being removed.

Figure 3 is a detail rear elevation of the breech block.

Figure 4 is a rear elevation of the cannon with the breech block in open position and showing the parts in an adjustment opposite to that shown in Figure 2, and

Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken through the rear end portion of the cannon or gun substantially on the line 5--5 of Figure 4.

Referring now to the drawings, designates the barrel of a gun which is provided with a smooth interior ,surface and which has at its rear end the usual ammunition chamber 11 adapted to receive the ammunition shell 12 in which is fitted the tail piece 13 of a projectile 14, the latter extending forwardly in the barrel 10.

Suitably fitted to the rear end of the barrel 10 is a frame 15 which carries a sliding breech block 16. The frame 15 is provided in its upper and lower sides with oblique guides or ribs 17 which interiit with correspondingly shaped grooves or channels 18 formed in the upper and lower edge portions of the breech block 16. The breech block 16 also carries a centrally and axially disposed iiring pin 19 of usual construction adapted to engage the base 2O of the shell 12 when fitted in the chamber 11 of the barrel. The ribs or guides 17 and the grooves 18 are so inclined transversely with respect to the axis of the gun as to advance the breech block 16 against the rear end of the chamber l1 when the breech block is moved inwardly into the position shown in Figures 1 and 2 and which when the breech block 16 is slid laterally out of register with the chamber 11, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, as to clear the rear end of the chamber 11 and admit of the withdrawal of the shell 12 for reloading.

The breech block 16 is provided at one edge with a semi-circular recess or cut-away portion 21 which is of suitable radius or size as to free the breech 20 of the shell when the 'block 16 is withdrawn and which at the same time will provide ample extensions at the upper and lower edges of the block 16 to maintain a proper purchase of the breech block on the guides or ribs 17 when the breech block is in open position.

For operating the breech block, the frame 15 is provided at one side, toward which the brech block slides, with a bracket arm 22 within which is rotatably mounted a shaft 23, the latter having its axis substantially parallel to that of the gun and which carries at its forward end an arm 24 with a crank pin 25 on its outer end which extends forwardly and moves in a slot 26 provided in the rear face of the breech block 16 and adjacent the end thereof.

As shownparticularly in Figure 3, the slot 26 is vertically disposed throughout the major portion of its length and the lower end of the slot 26 is slightly curved outwardly so as to conform to the arc on which the pin 25 travels after the breech block 16 has been moved int-o a fully closed position.

The frame 15 is provided at its side adjacent the bracket 22 with a vertically disposed web portion 27 which has at its forward side a recess 28 to accommodate theV outer end portion of the arm 24 when the latter is overturned inwardly to advance the breech block 16 into a closed position.

A crank arm 29 is fix-ed upon the rear end of the shaft 23 and at its inner end carries a stop lug 30 adapted to engage beneath a correspondingly disposed stop lug 31 mounted on the bracket 22 for limiting the outward and downward swingingmovement ofthe crank arm 29 when moved into an open position, such as shown in Figures 4 and 5.

The outer end of the crank arm 29 carries a handle which, as best shown in Figure 3, is slidably mounted on a tube 33 and normally held in av forward position by means of a spring 34 acting through a pin 35. rlhe forward end of the pin 35 has a point or projection 36 adapted to enter into a socket opening 37 formed in the rear side and upper intermediate portion of the frame 15 for lockingthe crank arm 29 in a raised closed position. The crank arm 29 is provided on its outer end with a lip 37 adapted to move into position behind a spaced lug 38 also disposed on the frame 15 when the arm 29 is in closed position. The lip 37 and the lug 38 hold the arm 29 firmly against l the rear side of the frame 15 so that vibra-V tion of the gun will not accidentally shift or mov-e the arm 29.

The firing pin 19 is exposed at its rear end through the rear side ofthe breech block 16 and a hammer 39 is mounted upon a bell crank lever 40 which is pivoted at 41 to the rear side and lower portion of the frame 15 in position to bring the hammer 39 into alignment with the firingpin 19 when the bell crank lever 40 is swung upwardly.V

The barrel 10 may be mounted in any suitable manner but is preferably slidably turn the shaft 23 and swing the arm 24 upwardly and outwardly with respect to the frame 15. rlhis action raises the pin 25 in the slot 26 with the result that the breech block 16 is first released from interlocking engagement with the pin 25 through the arm y 24, as shown in Figure 2, and subsequently7 the pin 25 engages the outer side of the slot 26 and draws the breech block 16 outwardly or laterally of the gun. This movement of the breech block slides the same upon the guides or ribs 17 with the result that the breech block is retracted from the chamber;

11 of the barrel and is carried to one side thereof until the recess 21 of the breech block clears the rear end of the barrel chamber and permits the introduction of the ammunition Y into the chamber 11 from the rear end thereswung back into closed position as shownin Figure 2, this movement carrying the arm 24 inwardly and downwardly so as to move l i To close the. breech, the opposite operation 1 takes place wherein the crank arm 29 isA the pin 25 in the slot 26 and force the breech 1 block 16 not only inwardly but also against the rear end of the barrel chamber 11. This Y brings the firing pin 19 into proper relation with respect to the ammunition shell 12 and also in line with the path of the hammer ,e

39. The stops 30 and 31 restrict the outward swinging movement of the crank arm 29 and the outward sliding movement of the breech block 16. l l

Lessa-e7 It is of course understood that cannon or guns of this type are provided with extractors as a necessary part of modern practical structures, but as these extractors form no part of the present invention, the same have been omitted in the illustration.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of th-e above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims.

That is claimed is 1. In a cannon, a barrel, a frame mounted across the rear end of the barrel and having guide ribs therein, a breech block slidably mounted upon said ribs in the frame and disposed to engage against the rear end of the barrel when the breech block is slid inwardly, and manual means connected to the breech block and mounted on the frame for sliding the breech block into and out of position, a portion of said manual means adapted to be telescopically received and concealed by said frame when the breech block is in its innermost position.

2. In a cannon, a barrel, a frame mounted across the rear end of the barrel, a breech block slidably mounted in the frame, said frame and breech block having interitting ribs and grooves extending transversely relatively to the axis of the gun, an arm pivotally mounted upon the frame and having a pin on its outer end, and means for swinging the arm, said breech block having a slot in its face for the reception of said pin and with the slot arranged at an angle to the path of travel of the breech block for sliding the same into and out of position upon the swinging of the arm.

3. In a cannon, a barrel, a frame mounted across the rear end of the barrel, a breech block slidably mounted in the frame, said frame and breech block having interfitting ribs and grooves disposed obliquely with respect to the axis of the barrel for advancing the breech lock toward the rear end of the barrel when the breech block is slid inwardly, a shaft pivotally mounted in the frame at one side thereof, a handle on the rear` end of the shaft for turning the same, an arm on the forward end of the shaft, and a pin on the outer end of said arm, said breech block having a vertical groove in its rear face adjacent said arm for the reception of said pin for shifting the breech upon the turning of said shaft.

4. In a. cannon, a barrel, a frame mounted across the rear end of the barrel and having obliquely disposed ribs in its upper and lower walls, a breech block slidably mounted in the frame and having oblique grooves in its upper and lower edges for the reception of isaid ribs to vguide the Ibreech block in its transverse movement, and a crank arm structure inounted-onone side ofthe frame rearwardly -of the breech block and connected to lfthe :latter for shifting the .breech block upon the turning of said crank arm structure.

5. In a cannon, a barrel, a frame on the rear .end ofthe :barrel provided with a transverse way and having oblique'ly disposed ribs in its ugpper and lower faces, a breech block slidably mounted in the way of the frame and having grooves in yits upper and lower edges for iinterfitting engagement with said ribs, said ribs and grooves approaching the rear end ofthe barrel at their innerends for guiding 'the breech vblock toward the rear end rof the barrel when the breech block is moved inwardly, and a crank arm structure carried upon the outer rear portion of said frame and connected lto the vbreech block for movi-ng the latter.

6. In a cannon, a barrel, a'transverse frame mounted upon the rear end of the barrel and having oblique ribs in its upper and lower faces, Va breech block slidably mounted upon said ribs for movement into and out of 'fthe frame, said ribs arranged to guide the breech block -i-nto position toward the rear end of the barrel when the breech block is moved inwardly, an arm pivota-lly mounted upon the side of the frame rearwardly of the breech block and ha fing a pin in its outer end, said breech block having a substantially vertical groove in its rear face for the reception of said xpin to shift the breech block upon the swinging ofsaid arm, a crank arm connected to said first arm, a handle on the-outer end of said crank arm, and a locking pin `carried upon said handle for movement thereby, said frame having a socket in its rear face adapted to recieve said pin of the handle when the latter is swung into closed position for locking the breech block in :closed position.

7.. In a cannon, a barrel, a transverse frame at the rear end of the barrel, a breech block slidably mounted lon the frame for transverse movement into and out of register with the rear end of the barrel, a firing pin mounted in the breech block and exposed Vthrough the rear face thereof, said breech block having near its outer end and in its rear face a substantially vertically disposed slot, a shaft rotatably mounted in the outer side of the frame, an arm on said shaft, a pin on the outer end of said arm engaging in said groove of the breech block, a crank arm mounted on the opposite end of said shaft, and a handle movably mounted upon the outer end of said crank arm for swinging the latter, said frame having a socket in its rear face for interlocking engagement with said handle when moved into closed position.

8. In combination, a supporting, guiding frame, a transversely-movable solid breech lllA block, carrying a firing pin slidable in said frame; said breech block having a verticallydisposed cam slot in the rear tace thereof, a bell crank mounted on said frame comprising an operating lever and a cam lever, the latter having a cani member inserted in said slot of the breech block, said parts being so arranged that when the breech block is in open position the cam lever and cam slots are exposed and when in closed position they are received by and enclosed by said frame.

9. In combination, a supporting and guide ing frame having horizontally-disposed guide ways therein, a transversely-movable, relatively narrow, solid breech block having a firing pin therein, said breech block having a vertically-disposed, actuating and locking cani slot, the lower end of which diverges` laterally, a bell crank mounted on said :frame comprising an operating lever and a cani lever engaging in said slot, said parts being so arranged that when the breech block is in closed position its cam slot and cam lever are concealed and enclosed by said frame.

l0. In combination, a supporting and guiding frame having horizontally-disposed guide ways therein, a transversely-movable, relatively narrow, solid breech block having a firing pin therein, said breech block having a vertically-disposed, actuating and locking cam slot, the lower end of which diverges laterally, a bell crank mounted on said frame comprising an operating lever and a cam lever engaging in said slot, said parts being so arranged that when the breech block is in closed position its cam slot and cam lever are y concealed and enclosed by said frame, a stop on said frame for limiting the movement of the operating lever.

11. In combination, a supporting and guiding frame having horizontally-disposed guide ways therein, a transversely-movable7 relatively narrow, solid breech block having a firing pin therein, said breech block having a vertically-disposed, actuating and locking cam slot, the lower end of which diverges laterally, a bell crank mounted on said frame comprising an operating lever and a cam lever engaging in said slot, said parts being so arranged that when the breech block is in closed position its cam slot and cam lever are concealed and enclosed by said frame, a stop on said frame for limiting the movement of the operating lever, and means to lock said operating lever in engagement with said stop.

LOUIS L. DRIGGS, JR. 

